Tough if you can't afford it

Durham chairman Clive Leach brushed aside criticism of the new live TV cricket deal by declaring: "There will always be people in certain walks of life who can't afford things - that is just the way it is."

Durham chairman Clive Leach brushed aside criticism of the new live TV cricket deal by declaring: "There will always be people in certain walks of life who can't afford things - that is just the way it is."

Leach played a key role in striking the £200m-plus deal in which the England and Wales Cricket Board granted BSkyB exclusive broadcasting rights to England matches from 2006.

The ECB faced a furious backlash from supporters last night after announcing the deal, that will see the end of live cricket on terrestrial television.

Sky Sports will show ball-by-ball coverage of all seven home Test matches, a minimum of 10 one-day inter-nationals and international 20-20 cricket from the 2006 season through to the Ashes series in 2009.

Highlights of all international cricket, bar the day/night one-day internationals, will be shown in the primetime slot between 7.15pm and 8pm on Five, which will be making its first foray into cricket broadcasting.

But while the ECB will rake in up to £220m over the four-year deal - which also includes radio, internet and mobile phone rights - there was little sympathy for those supporters left without access to any live cricket.

Many fans are unable or unwilling to pay the monthly subscription to BSkyB, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch.

England opener Marcus Trescothick believes selling an exclusive television rights deal to satellite television was the inevitable outcome because of the current financial state of the game.

"It is a tough one because the game needs the money to keep it going," Trescothick said.

"The grassroots is also an important part of cricket and we need to keep that going."